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More Magazine selects Lexington woman as beauty winner

Evelyn Harris stands in the 'blue room' at her home that features many paintings by her late son, Josh Harris. Evelyn, 71, was recently selected as a Beauty Search winner by More Magazine, which celebrates readers of all ages who look and feel beautiful.

This was the fourth year the magazine held the contest to celebrate readers of all ages who look and feel beautiful — now more than ever before. Harris, an avid reader of the publication, saw the advertisement and decided to give it a try.

"Something in me said, 'enter this contest,'" she said. "I never thought I would get a call."

In March, Harris emailed an essay and submitted a picture. There were four age groups — 30s, 40s, 50s and 60-plus.

She was ecstatic when she received a call about her being selected in the top 20. Harris was unsure how many women submitted entries, but she heard there were thousands from all over the nation.

"I fell down to the ground. I was speechless," Harris said when she received the call about being a winner. "I just didn't think this would happen to me."

All of the winners received an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City where a photo shoot took place that was featured in this month's issue. Harris traveled with her daughter, Kiki Harris, and son-in-law, Lee Thomas, in May.

"I love New York," she said. "I just had the best time. Everybody was so nice."

The winners also received $5,000 in cash. Harris donated the money to the Lexington Youth Theatre and Arts for Charity of Davidson County.

LYT is a nonprofit community organization that's dedicated to the presentation of live theater performances for Davidson County's young people. Arts for Charity was created a year ago to assist other nonprofit organizations through fundraisers. Harris started LYT 29 years ago and is the president of Arts for Charity.

"I chose those two because those charities are closest to my heart," she said. "Through the Lexington Youth Theatre I'm able to watch children grow and develop their artistic skills. I see Arts for Charity of Davidson County as a way to give back to my community. All of us have to work together."

During the past few months, Harris has been anxious while waiting on her story to be published. She and the other winners communicated through email a couple of times during the waiting period.

The magazine sent her copies. All of the four winners have their own page. Harris is featured on page 66. Another page displays a collage of some of the entries.

"They did a nice job. It's the coolest thing," she said.

An insert from the article reads, "I have lived a lovely, joyful, sad and magical life, and I feel that is reflected in my face. My son Josh, a Navy SEAL, died in Afghanistan five years ago, and we lost my two-year-old grandson, Beau, to metabolic disease six years ago. But I've found so much happiness as the mother of three, a grandmother of two other boys and wife to my husband, Sam, who has been my wonderful, constant companion for 49 years."

Harris also talked about her beauty regimen, her marriage to Dr. Sam Harris, and life experiences such as having a heart attack and surviving breast cancer in 2007.

She lost Petty Officer First Class SEAL Joshua Thomas Harris in 2008. Harris also has a son, S. Ranchor Harris III, and two grandchildren, Dylan and Chase. Hardison "Beau" Harris, Ranchor's son, passed away in 2007.

Something she was extremely proud to write about was living in a small Southern town named Lexington. She said with the town being referred to as one of the top 10 barbecue locations in the nation and the Barbecue Festival being listed as one of the top 10 festivals, she was happy to help put Lexington out there for others to learn about the city.

"This little town in the exact center of the state has so much going for it," she said. "I think it's amazing. Lexington is a town that should have possibly shut down after the furniture plants closed. Now look at all the people that were put out of work, but we're still going on. That's how I feel about myself. I just care so much about this town and county. I want so much to happen here. I don't want us to lose sight of how wonderful this place is."

Harris said she just wanted to share how she was the luckiest person in the world and how beauty comes from within.

The story ended with her saying, "When people ask me how I'm doing — in the last 10 years, I've survived both a heart attack and breast cancer — I simply say, 'I got up this morning and took that first step.' The first step is important, because it leads to all the rest."

Deneesha Edwards can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 213, or at deneesha.edwards@the-dispatch.com.

<p>What makes Evelyn Harris feel more beautiful in her 70s is loving and cherishing life more than she ever has before. </p><p>Apparently others agree.</p><p>She was featured in the October issue of More Magazine with three other women as Beauty Search Winners. The magazine is for women of style and substance, according to a press release. </p><p>"I don't know why they picked me," Harris, 71, said. "I do think they liked my story."</p><p>This was the fourth year the magazine held the contest to celebrate readers of all ages who look and feel beautiful — now more than ever before. Harris, an avid reader of the publication, saw the advertisement and decided to give it a try.</p><p>"Something in me said, 'enter this contest,'" she said. "I never thought I would get a call."</p><p>In March, Harris emailed an essay and submitted a picture. There were four age groups — 30s, 40s, 50s and 60-plus.</p><p>She was ecstatic when she received a call about her being selected in the top 20. Harris was unsure how many women submitted entries, but she heard there were thousands from all over the nation.</p><p>"I fell down to the ground. I was speechless," Harris said when she received the call about being a winner. "I just didn't think this would happen to me."</p><p>All of the winners received an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City where a photo shoot took place that was featured in this month's issue. Harris traveled with her daughter, Kiki Harris, and son-in-law, Lee Thomas, in May.</p><p>"I love New York," she said. "I just had the best time. Everybody was so nice."</p><p>The winners also received $5,000 in cash. Harris donated the money to the Lexington Youth Theatre and Arts for Charity of Davidson County.</p><p>LYT is a nonprofit community organization that's dedicated to the presentation of live theater performances for Davidson County's young people. Arts for Charity was created a year ago to assist other nonprofit organizations through fundraisers. Harris started LYT 29 years ago and is the president of Arts for Charity. </p><p>"I chose those two because those charities are closest to my heart," she said. "Through the Lexington Youth Theatre I'm able to watch children grow and develop their artistic skills. I see Arts for Charity of Davidson County as a way to give back to my community. All of us have to work together." </p><p>During the past few months, Harris has been anxious while waiting on her story to be published. She and the other winners communicated through email a couple of times during the waiting period. </p><p>The magazine sent her copies. All of the four winners have their own page. Harris is featured on page 66. Another page displays a collage of some of the entries.</p><p>"They did a nice job. It's the coolest thing," she said. </p><p>An insert from the article reads, "I have lived a lovely, joyful, sad and magical life, and I feel that is reflected in my face. My son Josh, a Navy SEAL, died in Afghanistan five years ago, and we lost my two-year-old grandson, Beau, to metabolic disease six years ago. But I've found so much happiness as the mother of three, a grandmother of two other boys and wife to my husband, Sam, who has been my wonderful, constant companion for 49 years."</p><p>Harris also talked about her beauty regimen, her marriage to Dr. Sam Harris, and life experiences such as having a heart attack and surviving breast cancer in 2007.</p><p>She lost Petty Officer First Class SEAL Joshua Thomas Harris in 2008. Harris also has a son, S. Ranchor Harris III, and two grandchildren, Dylan and Chase. Hardison "Beau" Harris, Ranchor's son, passed away in 2007.</p><p>Something she was extremely proud to write about was living in a small Southern town named Lexington. She said with the town being referred to as one of the top 10 barbecue locations in the nation and the Barbecue Festival being listed as one of the top 10 festivals, she was happy to help put Lexington out there for others to learn about the city.</p><p>"This little town in the exact center of the state has so much going for it," she said. "I think it's amazing. Lexington is a town that should have possibly shut down after the furniture plants closed. Now look at all the people that were put out of work, but we're still going on. That's how I feel about myself. I just care so much about this town and county. I want so much to happen here. I don't want us to lose sight of how wonderful this place is."</p><p>Harris said she just wanted to share how she was the luckiest person in the world and how beauty comes from within. </p><p>The story ended with her saying, "When people ask me how I'm doing — in the last 10 years, I've survived both a heart attack and breast cancer — I simply say, 'I got up this morning and took that first step.' The first step is important, because it leads to all the rest."</p><p>Deneesha Edwards can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 213, or at deneesha.edwards@the-dispatch.com.</p>